This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Perspective on this Article All Versions of this Article: 1940-6207.CAPR-08-0065v1 2/2/114    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hakim, A. A. Articles by Rodriguez, G. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hakim, A. A. Articles by Rodriguez, G. C. Related Collections Oncogenesis Oncogenesis: Animal Models

Ovarian Adenocarcinomas in the Laying Hen and Women Share Similar Alterations in p53, ras, and HER-2/neu

Authors' Affiliations: ¹ Department of Gynecologic Oncology, City of Hope, California; ² Department of Assay Research and Development, Abbott Molecular, Des Plaines, Illinois; ³ College of Veterinary Medicine and ⁴ Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina; ⁵ Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; ⁶ Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida; and ⁷ Chemoprevention Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland

Requests for reprints: Gustavo C. Rodriguez, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Northwestern University, Suite 1507, Walgreen Building, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201. Phone: 847-570-2639; Fax: 847-733-5398; E-mail: grodriguez{at}enh.org.

We examined alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene and the ras and HER-2/neu oncogenes in chicken ovarian cancers to determine if these tumors have genetic alterations similar to those in human ovarian adenocarcinomas. Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene and the H-ras and K-ras oncogenes were assessed by direct sequencing in 172 ovarian cancers obtained from 4-year-old birds enrolled at age 2 in two separate 2-year chemoprevention trials. Birds in trial B had approximately twice as many lifetime ovulations as those in trial A. Immunohistochemical staining for the HER-2/neu oncogene was done on a subset of avian ovarian and oviductal adenocarcinomas. Alterations in p53 were detected in 48% of chicken ovarian cancers. Incidence of p53 alterations varied according to the number of lifetime ovulations, ranging from 14% in trial A to 96% in trial B (P < 0.01). No mutations were seen in H-ras, and only 2 of 172 (1.2%) tumors had K-ras mutations. Significant HER-2/neu staining was noted in 10 of 19 ovarian adenocarcinomas but in only 1 of 17 oviductal adenocarcinomas. Similar to human ovarian cancers, p53 alterations are common in chicken ovarian adenocarcinomas and correlate with the number of lifetime ovulations. Ras mutations are rare, similar to high-grade human ovarian cancers. HER-2/neu overexpression is common and may represent a marker to exclude an oviductal origin in cancers involving both the ovary and oviduct.

Key Words: ovarian cancer • domestic laying hen • Gallus domesticus • p-53 • K-ras • HER-2/neu

This article has been cited by other articles:

				The Monkey, the Hen, and the Mouse: Models to Advance Ovarian Cancer Chemoprevention Cancer Prevention Research, September 1, 2009; 2(9): 773 - 775.

				Noteworthy Vet. Pathol., May 1, 2009; 46(3): 555 - 556. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Correction: Ovarian Adenocarcinomas in the Laying Hen and Women Share Similar Alterations in p53, ras, & HER-2/neu Cancer Prevention Research, March 1, 2009; 2(3): 283 - 283. [Full Text] [PDF]